Weeks or even months before Ganesha Chaturthi, artistic clay models of Lord Ganesha are made for sale by specially skilled artisans. They are beautifully decorated and depict Lord Ganesha in vivid poses. The size of these statues may vary from 3/4 of an inch to over 70 feet.

Ganesha Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesha statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas (pandals) in every locality. The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions. The pandals are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.

Story of loard Ganesha:
Significance of the loard Ganesha Form:
Ganesha's head symbolizes theAtman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.

Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride:
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."

108 names of Ganesha:
Akhuratha: One whose chariot is pulled by a mouse
Alampata: One who is forever eternal
Amit: One who is incomparable
Anantachidrupamayam: One who is the personification of the infinite consciousness

Avaneesh: Master of the universe
Avighna: The remover of obstacles
Balaganapati: Beloved child
Bhalchandra: One who is moon crested
Bheema: One who is gigantic
Bhupati: The lord of lords
Bhuvanpati: The lord of the heaven
Buddhinath: The God of wisdom
Buddhipriya: One who bestows of knowledge and intellect
Buddhividhata: The God of knowledge
Chaturbhuj: The four-armed lord
Devadeva: The lord of lords
Devantakanashakarin: Destroyer of evils and demons
Devavrata: One who accepts all penances
Devendrashika: The protector of all gods
Dharmik: One who is righteous and charitable
Dhoomravarna: One whose skin is smoke-hued
Durja: The invincible
Dvaimatura: One who has two mothers
Ekaakshara: One who is of a single syllable
Ekadanta: Single-tusked
Ekadrishta: Single-focused
Eshanputra: The son of Shiva
Gadadhara: One whose weapon is the mace
Gajakarna: One who has elephantine-ears
Gajanana: One who has an elephantine face
Gajananeti: One who has the looks of an elephant
Gajavakra: The trunk of an elephant
Gajavaktra: One who has an elephantine mouth
Ganadhakshya: The lord of lords
Ganadhyakshina: Leader of all celestial bodies
Ganapati: The lord of lords
Gaurisuta: The son of Gauri
Gunina: The lord of virtues
Haridra: One who is golden-hued
Heramba: Mother's beloved son
Kapila: One who is yellowish-brown
Kaveesha: The lord of poets
Kirti: The lord of music
Kripalu: Merciful lord
Krishapingaksha: One who has yellowish-brown eyes
Kshamakaram: The abode of forgiveness
Kshipra: One who is easy to appease
Lambakarna: One who has large ears
Lambodara: One who has a big belly
Mahabala: One who is enormously strong
Mahaganapati: The Supreme Lord
Maheshwaram: Lord of the universe
Mangalamurti: The all auspicious Lord
Manomay: The winner of hearts
Mrityuanjaya: The conqueror of death
Mundakarama: The abode of happiness
Muktidaya: Bestower of eternal bliss
Musikvahana: One who rides a mouse
Nadapratithishta: One who appreciates music
Namasthetu: Destroyer of evils and sins
Nandana: Lord Shiva's son
Nideeshwaram: Bestower of wealth
Omkara: One who has the form of 'Om'
Pitambara: One who has yellowish skin
Pramoda: Lord of all abodes
Prathameshwara: First among all Gods
Purush: The omnipotent personality
Rakta: One who is blood-hued
Rudrapriya: One who is the beloved of Shiva
Sarvadevatman: One who accepts all celestial offerings
Sarvasiddhanta: Bestower of skills and knowledge
Sarvatman: Protector of the universe
Shambhavi: Son of Parvati
Shashivarnam: One who has a moon-like complexion
Shoorpakarna: One who is large-eared
Shuban: The all auspicious Lord
Shubhagunakanan One who is The Master of All Virtues
Shweta: One who is as pure as the white
Siddhidhata: Bestower of accomplishments and successes
Siddhipriya: Giver of wishes and boons
Siddhivinayaka: Bestower of success
Skandapurvaja: Elder of Skanda or Kartikya
Sumukha: One who has an auspicious face
Sureshwaram: The lord of lords
Swaroop: Lover of beauty
Tarun: One who is ageless
Uddanda: The nemesis of evils and vices
Umaputra: The son of Goddess Uma
Vakratunda: One with a curved trunk
Varaganapati: Bestower of boons
Varaprada: One who grants wishes
Varadavinayaka: Bestower of success
Veeraganapati: The vigorous lord
Vidyavaridhi: The God of wisdom
Vighnahara: Remover of obstacles
Vignaharta: Destroyer of all obstacles
Vighnaraja: Lord of all obstacles
Vighnarajendra: Lord of all obstacles
Vighnavinashanaya: Destroyer of all obstacles
Vigneshwara: Lord of all obstacles
Vikat: One who is huge
Vinayaka: The Supreme Lord
Vishwamukha: Master of the universe
Vishwaraja: King of the world
Yagnakaya: One who accepts sacrificial offerings
Yashaskaram: The bestower of fame and fortune
Yashvasin: The beloved and ever popular lord
Yogadhipa: The lord of meditation
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